long time visitor first time member

[aerosonoma]

Hey guys, I've been following this forum for a long time now and now in the wake of my aerocap project I've decided to join. I drive a 1996 gmc Sonoma 2.2l automatic transmission. I have a 140 mile round trip commute every day to work. Rather than buying a new more efficient car I've decided to do the smart thing and attempt to build a 40 mpg truck. Being my trip is 97% highway my fuel mileage is slightly biased because of the lack of city driving. Currently I maintain a 28 mpg undocumented average. I can get into the low 30s hypermilling.I'm hoping my aero modifications and better fuel driving habits help me to my goal. I'll need help although that's why I'm here!

[UltArc]

Welcome! The auto may hold you back, but we have some excellent members here with a lot of experience. My advice...get a G1 Insight and spend 2 gallons a day driving lol.

I'm sure others will chime in with REAL advice, and I'm sure you know this, but use our search bar to check out some of the awesome projects already done

[aerosonoma]

Yeah i would love to buy of those! Haha that would be better and easier

[nimblemotors]

With that kind of commute, you would be well ahead to get a car that has the efficiency of the Indy One. Cost of 'fuel' is almost nothing when you get the equivalent of 300 mpg.

[deejaaa]

welcome. my commute is 98.4% freeway also so my averages are better than when i have to hit the lights.

[UltArc]

I would advise AGAINST that indy thing. IF it ever comes to fruition, 25k is a low number. After you buy the kit, you get to buy all the internals, and then assemble. Ran some quick numbers, just did a screen shot. 3k is a bit high for an Insight if you sold your truck, but wanted to make sure I wasn't being too biased on the G1. I know the fun of taking an inefficient vehicle, and making it fuel efficient, so that journey is always a blast! The only reason I even say otherwise, is that very rarely do my modifications pay for themselves. You said 140 miles per day, I inferred 5 days a week. I can send you the Excel sheet, but just a quick write up on my phone.

*Note the Insight calculations are for 50 MPG, not the easily attainable 60-70, or modified 70+. But I'd rather see you mod the truck!

[nimblemotors]

How did you get $25k for an Indy One 'thing'?
It is more like $10k.
How did you get $3k for an Insight? One that is needs a lot of work?

[UltArc]

On your website you said after purchasing the kit, one needed 10k in prius parts, up to 15. Add tax, labor, extra expenses, your claimed 10, plus the 10-15 on your website says an optimistic 20-25k.

I hate to write it again since you didn't read it the first time, but if he sold his truck, he'd have plenty. My $3500 Insight was bulletproof- just not deer proof. My $2000 Insight with only 1st, 2nd, and 3rd got me ALMOST 50 MPG, my 3rd Insight for 5k with a new battery and 80k miles, well, is just a low mileage Insight. My most recent was 3k, and is a 2005 rock star.

[UltArc]

Updated for the 15k price, didn't adjust for sale of Sonoma because I am still pretty leary about total cost, and likelihood of it coming about. I'm more of a bird in hand kind of guy, than two in the bush- but it is interesting how even getting relatively bad fuel economy is still fairly cheap when comparing to buying another vehicle.

Reread the site, so what is the cost for just your kit? I see the official Toyota price is a bit over $3600, for a nice new one, as little as 1500 from a site which doesn't mention any detail- seems like about 3k to get it. We are really getting off topic on our new official members thread.

[cowmeat]

I agree with Ultarc, get yourself a G1 Insight!

There's not a decent Insight out there that will get you less than 60-70 mpg on that commute. I average better than 60 mpg on the highway at 80 mph in mine. At 70 mph with a semi in front of me I average about 75-100 mpg.

Not that I envy your long drive, but if I had that 97% highway commute Ron Burgundy would be one of the highest mpg cars on the site (other than the plug-ins)